Welcome to the LWOS Fantasy Department’s Official Fantasy Football Rankings. We will release our rankings and player profiles over the next few weeks to get you prepared for your 2014 fantasy football draft. Everyday we will be releasing either a group of player profiles with their rankings or articles that will provide you with outstanding fantasy advice. Take a second to bookmark the site so you can check back daily. Follow our departments twitter account @lwosfantasy for info, updates, and advice. We are going to work hard for you, to make sure you get to have the Last Word on Your Fantasy League. Click here for all our fantasy articles and rankings. Today we have fantasy running back rankings 30-26.
Fantasy Running Back Rankings 30-26
#30 Maurice Jones-Drew
| Year | Age | Team | G | R-Att | Yards | TD | Avg | Rec | Yards | Avg | TD | Tar | Fum | Fum lost |
| 2011 | 26 | Jac | 16 | 343 | 1606 | 8 | 4.7 | 43 | 374 | 8.7 | 3 | 64 | 6 | 1 |
| 2012 | 27 | Jac | 6 | 86 | 414 | 1 | 4.8 | 14 | 86 | 6.1 | 1 | 18 | 2 | 0 |
| 2013 | 28 | Jax | 15 | 234 | 803 | 5 | 3.4 | 43 | 314 | 7.3 | 0 | 60 | 1 | 1 |
The ol’ bag of bones is getting another shot; this tie in black and silver. In what has become the only real battle for the backfield, MJD is facing the brittle Darren McFadden. People say that MJD has lost his step, but when he’s in contention for a starting role with Mr. Breakable, he’s an odds on favorite most of the season anyways. His preseason debut showed pep in his step and a return to physical running. Once Darren McFadden goes down, and he will go down, Jones-Drew will solidify a flex position on your roster from a more than reasonable ADP (109 according to Rotowire.com)
Casey Bowman – @LWOSCaseyBow
#29 Stevan Ridley
| Year | Age | Team | G | R-Att | Yards | TD | Avg | Rec | Yards | Avg | TD | Tar | Fum | Fum lost |
| 2011 | 22 | NE | 16 | 87 | 441 | 1 | 5.1 | 3 | 13 | 4.3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 | 23 | NE | 16 | 290 | 1263 | 12 | 4.4 | 6 | 51 | 8.5 | 0 | 14 | 4 | 2 |
| 2013 | 24 | NE | 14 | 178 | 773 | 7 | 4.3 | 10 | 62 | 6.2 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 4 |
I was one of the infuriated owners of Stevan Ridley last year. I will be the first one to tell you that I will not own Stevan Ridley again this year. It’s personal. Bellichek’s running back philosophy of riding the hot hand combined with Ridley’s fumbling issues, found him in Bill’s doghouse more than he did in Bill’s backfield. Ridley’s fumbling concerns, combined with the Patriots’ running philosophy makes him too unreliable for me to consider drafting.
Craig Dyer – @SportsSquabbles
#28 Steven Jackson
| Year | Age | Team | G | R-Att | Yards | TD | Avg | Rec | Yards | Avg | TD | Tar | Fum | Fum lost |
| 2011 | 28 | StL | 15 | 260 | 1145 | 5 | 4.4 | 42 | 333 | 7.9 | 1 | 58 | 2 | 1 |
| 2012 | 29 | StL | 16 | 257 | 1042 | 4 | 4.1 | 38 | 321 | 8.4 | 0 | 53 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | 30 | Atl | 12 | 157 | 543 | 6 | 3.5 | 33 | 191 | 5.8 | 1 | 49 | 0 | 0 |
Jackson has amassed 10,681 yards rushing in his career. That tells you how good of a career he has had. Last season was the first time since his rookie campaign that he did not break the 1000 yard mark. There were three factors that lead to the poor season. He missed 4 games. He was behind a terrible offensive line. He turned 30 years old. If you believe that he can stay healthy and that the line is improved in Atlanta, than you can get him at a value. However, you cannot change the fact that he turned 31 years old. So, if you draft him make sure you find room on your roster for Devonta Freeman.
Chuck Amspacher – @Captain_LWOS
#27 Ray Rice
| Year | Age | Team | G | R-Att | Yards | TD | Avg | Rec | Yards | Avg | TD | Tar | Fum | Fum lost |
| 2011 | 24 | Bal | 16 | 291 | 1364 | 12 | 4.7 | 76 | 704 | 9.3 | 3 | 104 | 2 | 2 |
| 2012 | 25 | Bal | 16 | 257 | 1143 | 9 | 4.4 | 61 | 478 | 7.8 | 1 | 83 | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 | 26 | Bal | 15 | 214 | 660 | 4 | 3.1 | 58 | 321 | 5.5 | 0 | 73 | 2 | 2 |
Baltimore’s leading man will miss the first 2 weeks of 2014 due to suspension for his elevator incident with his now wife. Rice has come into camp leaner and quicker, looking to improve upon his wildly inconsistent 2013 campaign. Greatest strength: remarkably durable and can be counted on to answer the bell on a weekly basis. Biggest opportunity: lots of wear on that body due to his high carry count throughout his time in a Ravens uniform. How much gas is left in the tank?
Donald King – @dbking65
#26 Shane Vereen
| Year | Age | Team | G | R-Att | Yards | TD | Avg | Rec | Yards | Avg | TD | Tar | Fum | Fum lost |
| 2011 | 22 | NE | 5 | 15 | 57 | 1 | 3.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | 23 | NE | 13 | 62 | 251 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 149 | 19 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 1 |
| 2013 | 24 | NE | 8 | 44 | 208 | 1 | 4.7 | 47 | 427 | 9.1 | 3 | 69 | 1 | 0 |
Vereen is flying under the radar this year because he missed 8 games last year due to a broken wirst. When healthy, Vereen is a great pass catcher that suits very well in PPR leagues. However, he still has value in standard scoring. In 2013, Vereen scored at least 9 points in every game that he had more than 10 rushing attempts. With LeGarrette Blount now in Pittsburg, the power running game that New England featured in 2013 will not be used as much. Look for Vereen to be the featured RB, as I don’t see Steven Ridley taking too many carries in 2014. Vereen’s upside is an average RB2, and in this Patriots’ offense, anything can happen.
Jack Hammond – @jayhamm26
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OAKLAND, CA – AUGUST 15: Maurice Jones-Drew #21 of the Oakland Raiders in action against the Detroit Lions during their preseason game at O.co Coliseum on August 15, 2014 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
