Running back non-PPR rankings for Week 14 fantasy football

Final injury report

Most disappointing on Week 14’s final injury report is, of course, the rule out of Antonio Gibson. J.D. McKissic is bound to share the workload with Peyton Barber, who is used more in short-yardage situations. Though Barber may be more likely to score, McKissic’s target share makes him essentially a wide receiver.

Salvon Ahmed of the Dolphins has been ruled out, making Myles Gaskin a near must-play.

Christian McCaffrey has been formally listed, but that’s not unexpected. It’s time to hit the panic button as fantasy managers head into the playoffs. First it was the ankle, then the shoulder, and now a quad. If active, we can project a voluptuous workload; achieving an “active” designation might be the hard part.

Raiders RB Josh Jacobs is officially listed as questionable after getting in a limited practice following his Week 13 absence. Fantasy managers shouldn’t trust Devontae Booker in a key week for a playoff run. Jacobs missed Week 13 with otb an ankle sprain but returned to limited practices this week. He’ll test it Saturday to see if he’s ready to return.

Ezekiel Elliott, also listed as questionable, has said he intends to play with a calf injury. The Cardinals also hope to have Kenyan Drake.

Out: Salvon Ahmed (shoulder), Alexander Mattison (illness), Antonio Gibson (toe)
Doubtful: Christian McCaffrey (shoulder), Travis Homer (knee)
Questionable: Frank Gore (concussion), Kenyan Drake (ankle), D’Andre Swift (illness), Josh Jacobs (ankle), Ezekiel Elliott (calf)

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Thursday injury report

We didn’t see much movement from Wednesday to Thursday's injury report. Salvon Ahmed and Antonio Gibson still nabbed the DNP tag, meaning barring any major changes in Friday’s practice, both of these guys can be projected as out for Week 14.

Christian McCaffrey missed Thursday’s practice and is trending towards out once again. It’s a tough blow heading into the fantasy football playoffs.

D’Andre Swift is still listed as limited with an illness and should be approached cautiously this week. The interim head coach expressed some positivity that he had “one of his better days” since returning from a concussion. He didn’t sound particularly positive

James Robinson was listed as a limited participant in practice again this week with a knee injury, though his continued use as a workhorse on gameday might be indicative that these limited sessions are just related to workload management.

DNP: Salvon Ahmed (shoulder), Antonio Gibson (toe), Christian McCaffrey (shoulder, thigh)
Limited: Todd Gurley (knee), Ito Smith (neck), Ezekiel Elliott (calf), D’Andre Swift (illness), James Robinson (knee)
Full: Phillip Lindsay (knee), Kerryon Johnson (knee), Devontae Booker (back), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness)

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Wednesday injury report

Cam Akers gave fantasy managers a scare early this week after being listed on the injury report with a shoulder injury. He was left off of the final injury report for Thursday Night Football.

After he was announced as “active” in Week 13, Clyde Edwards-Helaire didn’t play a single snap, which fantasy managers didn’t take too kindly. The good news? He’s practicing in full this week, presumably on track to actually take the field Sunday.

Antonio Gibson received a DNP tag Wednesday after suffering a “painful case of turf toe” in Monday’s game against the Steelers. Fantasy managers should be prepared to set a lineup without him for a week at the very least, if he returns for the fantasy playoffs at all.

Christian McCaffrey has been working towards a return from a shoulder injury suffered in Week 9, and he seemed to be on track. However, he’s now been listed with a quad injury, which head coach Matt Rhule notes that he suffered last week. His status for Sunday is certainly in question, but fantasy managers have been without him much of the season, so it shouldn’t change much in terms of lineup construction.

Todd Gurley’s limited session shouldn’t be of much concern in terms of his status for Sunday. The Falcons have clearly been managing his workload; even with his tendencies to fall into the end zone, he’ll be hard to trust heading into the playoffs after handling just nine touches in each of his last two outings.

D’Andre Swift got in a limited practice session after missing Week 13 with an illness. If he makes a return this week, he’s bound for a juicy matchup against the Packers.

DNP: Salvon Ahmed (shoulder), Antonio Gibson
Limited: Todd Gurley (knee), Ito Smith (concussion), Christian McCaffrey (shoulder, thigh), Frank Gore (concussion), Kerryon Johnson (knee), D’Andre Swift (illness)
Full: Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness), Darrynton Evans (hamstring), Cam Akers (shoulder)

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Jonathan Taylor managers finally have a reason for hope as they head into the fantasy football playoffs. He finished the week with his first finish of 15 or more fantasy points since Week 2. Other big names this week, of course, included Dalvin Cook, Chris Carson, Nick Chubb and Alvin Kamara.

Some of the more surprising names to finish with big days include Wayne Gallman, Cordarrelle Patterson and Peyton Barber. Gallman has found his stride in New York and has assumed a workhorse role since Week 9, posting 15 or more touches in each of those four games. He’s currently one of the more underrated fantasy football players rostered in standard scoring formats.

Derrick Henry, Kareem Hunt and Raheem Mostert highlight some of the week’s more disappointing performances, each finishing Week 13 as an RB3 in non-PPR scoring formats.

Injury news

The biggest injury news of the week was to Washington RB Antonio Gibson. Gibson played just four offensive snaps prior to suffering a toe injury. We do not have a formal diagnosis, though if it is turf toe, fantasy managers may be without the lead back through the rest of the fantasy season. It’s unfortunate considering his outstanding performances when given enough carries.

D’Andre Swift should hopefully return to the active lineup in Week 14. After missing two games due to a concussion, Swift cleared the protocol, only to miss the following week due to an illness. If he does, the matchup against the Packers provides a nice opportunity to bounce back.

Frank Gore left Sunday’s game with a concussion. He was replaced by Ty Johnson, who totaled 117 scrimmage yards on 24 touches to pair with a touchdown.

Fantasy managers saw Todd Gurley II return to the lineup after an absence in Week 12 due to a knee injury. In the same game, backup RB Ito Smith suffered a concussion. At face value, it’s not big news, but if Gurley continues to see just eight carries per game, it might be Brian Hill time in Atlanta as the fantasy playoffs kick off.

Bye weeks

There are no teams on bye in Week 14.

Streaming options

David Montgomery, Chicago Bears

This Bears’ running back has been on a bit of a tear recently, I’m here to give anyone waiting for the fallout hope that David Montgomery can perform for one more week. Through the 2020 season, Montgomery is averaging 18 scrimmage touches per game while playing the third-most snaps among RBs. Through his last four games, Montgomery has racked up a healthy 401 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns. A plus matchup

D’Andre Swift (or Adrian Peterson, really), Detroit Lions

Assuming that D’Andre Swift returns from injury in Week 14, he’d be the play. However, if he’s out, the Lions do face an opponent worthy enough to bring Adrian Peterson into flex consideration. This divisional matchup might produce a league-high rushing yard total on the week, as both defenses continue to allow big games on the ground. The Packers have allowed five players 90 or more rushing yards since Week 9, and whoever gets the rock will be a beneficiary of that weaker rushing defense. Peterson has had two straight games of two or more touchdowns in Swift’s absence.