2014 Fantasy Football: Ranking The Top 20 RBs After Preseason Week 3

In 15 games last season, Frank Gore finished as the No. 10-ranked fantasy running back with 173.5 points, averaging 11.6 fantasy points per game. Gore's numbers have declined in his last two seasons, but he did score nine touchdowns.

Despite all the struggles that Chris Johnson had last season with the Tennessee Titans, CJ2k still finished as the No. 9-ranked fantasy running back with 178.1 fantasy points, averaging 11.9 fantasy points per game. Johnson had over 1,400 yards from scrimmage and scored 10 touchdowns. This season, Johnson joins the New York Jets, a team that runs more than throws, which can both help and hurt CJ2K's fantasy value.

The only rookie running back to appear on this list, Bishop Sankey is Johnson's replacement in Tennessee. Drafted in the second round (No. 54 overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft, Sankey was the first running back selected. Sankey should benefit this season from a solid offensive line.

After a breakout rookie season with the Washington Redskins in 2012, Alfred Morris, like the entire team, went through a major slump in 2013. Still, Morris was the No. 14-ranked fantasy running back with 163 fantasy points, averaging 10.9 fantasy points per game. While Morris is a great runner, his minimal impact in the passing game (nine receptions last season) is the reason why he falls in the rankings.

Filling in for an injured Darren McFadden in Oakland, Rashad Jennings had a solid 2013 season, finishing as the No. 21-ranked fantasy running back with 136.8 fantasy points, averaging 9.8 fantasy points per game. This season, Jennings is the bona fide starter for the New York Giants, and despite their recent offensive line woes, a new offensive scheme should help Jennings become a top-20 fantasy back this season.

A sixth-round pick last season, Andre Ellington played so well last season that he out-produced starter Rashard Mendenhall. Despite starting just one game, Ellington was the No. 24-ranked fantasy running back with 122.1 fantasy points, averaging 8.7 fantasy points per game. This season, Ellington is the starter for the Cardinals, which means more opportunities for him to excel in both the running and passing game.

Playing without Sam Bradford for most of his rookie season, St. Louis Rams RB Zac Stacy, a fifth-round pick last season, finished as the No. 18-ranked fantasy running back with 153.6 points, averaging 11.8 fantasy points per game. Stacy will be without Bradford again this season, but the Rams are more of a running team than a passing team anyway, so his stats shouldn't change too much.

Playing in just six games last season because of a shoulder injury, Tampa Bay's Doug Martin finished as the No. 55-ranked fantasy running back in with 56.2 fantasy points, averaging 9.4 fantasy points per game. With a fully healthy Martin this season, expect him to be a top fantasy back once again. The recent addition of guard Logan Mankins will help Martin's rushing numbers significantly.

Just like Martin, Houston Texans RB Arian Foster also struggled through an injury-riddled season in 2013. Playing in just eight games, Foster finished as the No. 42-ranked fantasy running back with 86.5 fantasy points, averaging 10.8 fantasy points per game. With Ben Tate now in Cleveland, Foster is the only proven running back the Texans have, which gives him more opportunities to produce in both the running and passing game.

Giovani Bernard started zero games last season, yet finished as the No. 15-ranked fantasy running back with 159.6 fantasy points, averaging 10.6 fantasy points per game. Bernard had over 1,000 yards from scrimmage and scored eight touchdowns as a rookie. This season, Bernard is the unquestioned starter for the Bengals, and with that comes even more opportunities for touches as both a runner and a receiver.

As a backup to Adrian Peterson last season with the Minnesota Vikings, Toby Gerhart finished as the No. 63-ranked fantasy running back with 47.1 fantasy points, averaging 3,4 fantasy points per game. As the No. 1 starter with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Gerhart will get a major increase in carries, touchdowns and even receptions.

DeMarco Murray was often ignored in Dallas' offense last season, but he still managed to finish as the No. 7-ranked fantasy running back with 198.2 fantasy points, averaging 15.2 fantasy points per game. Murray ran for over 1,100 yards last season and was the team's third-leading receiver with 53 receptions. Murray should continue to produce solid numbers with Scott Linehan now taking over as offensive coordinator.

Marshawn Lynch was the focal point of Seattle's offense during their Super Bowl season last year and was also a great fantasy back. Lynch finished as the No. 5-ranked fantasy running back with 223.2 fantasy points, averaging 14.9 fantasy points per game. Lynch may see a lighter workload considering his age and the emergence of Christine Michael, but Lynch will still produce like a top-10 fantasy back.

Le'Veon Bell's status to start 2014 may be in doubt after a recent arrest, but he finished 2013 as the No. 17-ranked fantasy running back with 157.2 fantasy points, averaging 13.1 fantasy points per game. Bell started in just 13 games last season, but recorded over 1,200 all-purpose yards and eight total touchdowns. Despite the presence of free agent LeGarrette Blount, Bell is still a top-10 fantasy back.

Playing without Aaron Rodgers for most of the 2013 season, Green Bay rookie RB Eddie Lacy finished 2013 as the No. 8-ranked fantasy running back with 193.4 fantasy points, averaging 13.8 fantasy points per game. With Rodgers back and healthy this season, Lacy could see a slight drop-off in his overall production, but he will be a focal point for the Packers' offense.

Montee Ball was mostly a spectator last season as Knowshon Moreno became the lead running back for Denver, but with Moreno now in Miami, Ball is the unquestioned No. 1 back. In limited action, Ball was the No. 45-ranked fantasy running back with 79.1 fantasy points, averaging 5.3 fantasy points per game. Any running back who has played with Peyton Manning has been a good fantasy player, and Ball will be the next great fantasy back this season.

In his first season under coach Marc Trestman, Chicago's Matt Forte finished as the No. 3-ranked fantasy running back with 229.6 fantasy points, averaging 15.3 fantasy points per game. Forte led the Bears in rushing with 1,339 yards and was the team's third-leading receiver. There has been nothing to suggest that Forte is breaking down and he will once again be a top fantasy option in 2014.

Adrian Peterson has been the standard among running backs since he was drafted in 2013, and he was still productive last season in fantasy. Peterson finished as the No. 6-ranked fantasy running back with 203.7 fantasy points, averaging 14.6 fantasy points per game. Now fully healthy this season after missing the final two games of 2013, Peterson will once reclaim his place as a top-notch fantasy running back.

LeSean McCoy was the NFL's leading rusher a season ago, and was the No. 2-ranked fantasy running back with 259.2 fantasy points, averaging 17.3 fantasy points per game. McCoy finished with 1,607 rushing yards, 539 receiving yards, and scored 11 total touchdowns. Despite the addition of Darren Sproles to the Eagles' backfield, expect McCoy to post similar numbers this season.

Jamaal Charles was the No. 1 fantasy running back last season and is projected the favorite to repeat once again in 2014. Charles finished with 308.1 fantasy points, averaging 20.5 fantasy points per game. He also led the Chiefs in rushing and receiving last season. With Kansas City not making any significant changes on offense, expect Charles to be a huge factor again this season with numbers similar to his 2013 season.