Fantasy: 2014 Player Rankings - Running Backs

Over the last two seasons, theScore's Justin Boone has finished in the top 10 in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition. Follow the links to see his rankings for every position heading into 2014 fantasy drafts.

Rankings
QB | RB | WR | TE | DST | K | IDP

Running Backs

• The top five seem to be locked into place barring a preseason injury. 

• Eddie Lacy had a strong rookie season and may add more passing down work to his resume this year. Opposing defences will have to choose between trying to stop Lacy or trying to stop the Packers' passing attack and they may not be able to do either this season. 

• DeMarco Murray didn't seem to get enough praise for his excellent campaign in 2013. The Cowboys back was solid on the ground, but was sneaky good as a pass catcher, making 53 receptions out of the backfield. That number could rise this year as the Cowboys may often find themselves playing catch up. 

• Montee Ball could step in and take over the role filled by Knowshon Moreno last season, but C.J. Anderson is a name to keep an eye on. It seems like most running backs could prosper in that offense and if Ball gets injured, Anderson will likely be the next man up. 

• Giovani Bernard, Andre Ellington, and C.J. Spiller are the type of players who make Sundays exciting, however, worrying about their health and their touchdown totals might take away some of that fun. 

• Toby Gerhart is going to get every opportunity to be a true lead back in Jacksonville. If his ADP doesn't rise significantly during the offseason, he is one of my top targets in the late third and early fourth rounds. 

• With little competition in New York, Rashad Jennings appears to have a similar situation to Gerhart. Rookie Andre Williams is raw and Peyton Hillis is still Peyton Hillis. 

• The Lions backs are a little lower than you might expect, due to the fact they will be sharing the ball so much. Reggie Bush and Joique Bell will get most of the snaps, but Theo Riddick is being mentioned a lot in training camp and may factor in as well. 

• Lamar Miller, fantasy owners are giving you a second chance, don't let us down. 

• The winner of the Ben Tate and Terrance West battle in Cleveland will be in store for a big season. That's assuming there is a winner and they aren't asked to split touches, which would be unfortunate to say the least. 

• Not impressed by Ray Rice on or off the field so far this year.  If you wait on your RB2, Bernard Pierce is a nice fill-in for the first two weeks while Rice is serving his suspension. 

• Jeremy Hill is in a very intriguing spot in Cincinnati. The rookie is preparing to take over as the hammer in the Bengals offense. It's an offense that expects to be run-heavy and Hill should get plenty of goal line carries. Not bad for a player going off thew board in the ninth round of fantasy drafts.

• Devonta Freeman, Christine Michael, Carlos Hyde, James Starks, and Knile Davis are names you need to get familiar with because each of them can be a fantasy star if the starter on their team goes down this season.