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The fact that we have six teams on a bye might make you think that Najee Harris is a must-start running back this week. Due his matchup against the Baltimore Ravens and his disappearing role in the passing game, I would prefer to avoid him.

Harris has been much more efficient since the Steelers came back from their bye, and he has at least 17 carries in all three games he's started and finished, but his role in the passing game has vanished. He has one game with more than one target since Week 8, and that was the game Jaylen Warren missed with a hamstring injury. More worrisome was the fact that the team thought it should give Benny Snell six carries last week.

That makes Harris a touchdown-dependent back in Week 14 and there are plenty of reasons to doubt whether he'll score. First, Vegas doesn't think there will be much scoring in this game at all, with the over/under sitting at 37. That's probably because the Ravens have only allowed more than 13 points once since Week 8. None of those points have come on rushing touchdowns from running backs.

This week it would be understandable if you're forced to start Harris, it's that bad. But I'm doing my best to avoid it.

Now let's get to the rest of the Week 14 RB Preview:

Week 14 RB Preview
RB Preview
Who's Out

The following players are not being projected to play in Week 14 at this time. Here's what it means:

SEA Seattle • #9
Age: 23 • Experience: 3 yrs.
DeeJay Dallas or Tony Jones should lead this backfield, but neither is more than a flex.
RB Preview
Numbers to know
  • 6 -- Red-zone touches for Zonovan Knight in Week 13, he's a must-start back.
  • 612 -- Scrimmage yards for Josh Jacobs during the Raiders' three-game win streak, by far the most in the NFL.
  • 25 -- Touches for Chrisitan McCaffrey in the first game without Jeff Wilson. This could be the trend moving forward with Jimmy Garoppolo out for the season. 
  • 4 -- Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard each have scored four touchdowns over the past three games. Perhaps they can both be startable Fantasy options. 
  • 2.8 -- Yards per carry for Derrick Henry over the last four games. He could easily turn it around in an instant, but it has not been an encouraging stretch of football for Henry. 
  • 98% -- Snap rate for Rhamondre Stevenson in Week 13, the highest among running backs.
  • 8 -- Jerrick McKinnon played eight of the 11 Chiefs snaps inside the 10-yard line.
  • 17 -- Cam Akers dominated Rams' running back carries with 17 in Week 13.
RB Preview
Matchups that matter
Matchups that Matter
Projections powered by Sportsline
CHI Chicago • #4
Age: 25 • Experience: 5 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs MIN DET -1.5 O/U 53.5
OPP VS RB
22nd
PROJ PTS
14.1
RB RNK
10th
YTD Stats
RUYDS
354
REC
28
REYDS
235
TD
6
FPTS/G
13.9
PIT Pittsburgh • #22
Age: 26 • Experience: 4 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs BAL PIT -3 O/U 37
OPP VS RB
6th
PROJ PTS
11.6
RB RNK
19th
YTD Stats
RUYDS
671
REC
30
REYDS
148
TD
6
FPTS/G
12.2
CAR Carolina • #6
Age: 27 • Experience: 6 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ NYG PHI -7 O/U 45.5
OPP VS RB
14th
PROJ PTS
12.1
RB RNK
13th
YTD Stats
RUYDS
924
REC
17
REYDS
74
TD
9
FPTS/G
14.3
BUF Buffalo • #28
Age: 34 • Experience: 11 year
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs KC KC -9 O/U 43
OPP VS RB
19th
PROJ PTS
11.3
RB RNK
22nd
YTD Stats
RUYDS
405
REC
17
REYDS
84
TD
4
FPTS/G
11.3
MIA Miami • #23
Age: 28 • Experience: 7 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ LAC MIA -3 O/U 52
OPP VS RB
26th
PROJ PTS
11
RB RNK
24th
YTD Stats
RUYDS
680
REC
16
REYDS
149
TD
5
FPTS/G
10.4
RB Preview
Waiver Wire Targets
Week 14 Adds (RB Preview)
ARI Arizona • #37
Age: 26 • Experience: 4 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs CAR SEA -3.5 O/U 44
OPP VS RB
21st
RB RNK
33rd
ROSTERED
11%
YTD Stats
RUYDS
22
REC
4
REYDS
30
TD
0
FPTS/G
1.8
As of now, we're prioritizing Tony Jones over DeeJay Dallas, but the injury situation in Seattle is very uncertain. Neither Kenneth Walker nor Dallas has been ruled out. If Dallas starts, I'd rank him as a high-end flex, if it's Jones, he's a low-end flex. And beware if Travis Homer is cleared, he would likely dominate passing downs.
CAR Carolina • #30
Age: 25 • Experience: 4 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ SEA SEA -3.5 O/U 44
OPP VS RB
29th
RB RNK
36th
ROSTERED
39%
YTD Stats
RUYDS
176
REC
5
REYDS
36
TD
1
FPTS/G
3
Hubbard is a low-end flex if D'Onta Foreman is healthy, but Foreman is battling multiple injuries, so that's no sure thing. Over the past three weeks the Seahawks have surrendered 455 yards and five touchdowns to running backs. If Foreman is out, Hubbard could be a week winner in Week 14.
Stashes (RB Preview)
SF San Francisco • #24
Age: 25 • Experience: 3 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs TB SF -3.5 O/U 37.5
OPP VS RB
3rd
RB RNK
38th
ROSTERED
25%
YTD Stats
RUYDS
97
REC
0
REYDS
0
TD
0
FPTS/G
0.9
Mason was the clear No. 2 behind Christian McCaffrey with Elijah Mitchell out of the picture. We all know McCaffrey's injury history, and Mason now appears to be just one injury away from 15-plus touches per game in an offense that should be even more run-heavy with Brock Purdy at quarterback.
RB Preview
DFS Plays
Top DFS Play
Projections powered by Sportsline
BUF Buffalo • #28
Age: 34 • Experience: 11 year
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs KC KC -9 O/U 43
OPP VS RB
19th
PROJ PTS
11.3
RB RNK
22nd
YTD Stats
RUYDS
405
REC
17
REYDS
84
TD
4
FPTS/G
11.3
Latavius Murray caught four passes in Mike Boone's first game back and the Chiefs have been among the worst in the league against pass-catching running backs this season. Murray's low price gives you extra flexibility and he has plenty of upside against a Chiefs defense that just gave up 21.5 PPR Fantasy points to Samaje Perine.
Contrarian DFS Play
Projections powered by Sportsline
DET Detroit • #27
Age: 23 • Experience: 3 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ BUF BUF -9.5 O/U 44
OPP VS RB
11th
PROJ PTS
10.3
RB RNK
15th
YTD Stats
RUYDS
159
REC
8
REYDS
62
TD
0
FPTS/G
15.1
Knight does have a terrible matchup against the Bills, but Mike White's propensity to dump balls off to backs should keep his value afloat even if his 5.5 yards per carry comes crashing back to earth. Expect a minimum of four catches in this game from the Jets' new feature back.
RB Preview
Heath's Projections